TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

SPECIFIC-INTENT CRIME [1 record]

Record 1 2009-07-15

English

Subject field(s)
  • Penal Law
  • Criminology
CONT

Common-law Larceny, for example, requires both the physical act of taking and carrying away the property of another and the mental element of intent to steal the property. Similarly, common-law Burglary requires breaking and entering into the dwelling of another with an intent to commit a felony therein. These crimes and others that require a specific-intent element are called specific-intent crimes and are distinguished from general-intent crimes.

CONT

Specific intent crimes, however, require a certain mental state ("mens rea") to break the law. One such offense, for example, is residential burglary.

OBS

The term specific intent is commonly used in criminal and Tort Law to designate a special state of mind that is required, along with a physical act, to constitute certain crimes or torts. Specific intent is usually interpreted to mean intentionally or knowingly.

Key term(s)
  • crime of specific intent

French

Domaine(s)
  • Droit pénal
  • Criminologie
CONT

Il est également clair que la défense d'intoxication volontaire qui nie l'intention criminelle requise ne peut être invoquée à l'égard d'accusations portant sur des crimes d'intention générale [...]

Spanish

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